Carton with composite end wall

ABSTRACT

A means of forming or embossing the end-flaps of a fiber-board carton so that the mutually engaging surfaces of the several flaps are parallel to each other, and therefor define closely contacting surfaces when the carton is sealed. This relationship assures that the adhesive applied to the flaps will uniformly contact the surface of the opposed flap.

United States Patent Wood [54] CARTON WITH COMPOSITE END WALL [72] inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Robert E. Wood, Ashland, Ohio The A. Garber Company, Ashland, Ohio [22] Filed: Feb, 2, 1971 [2l] Appl. No.: 111,865

[52] U.s. cl. 229/43, 229/48 R [5 i] im. cl ssd 5/64 [58] Field ofsearch 229/37 R, 38, 43, 44 R, 48 sA,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l 1,847,834 3/1932 iaeobim 229/43 [45] July 25, 1972 3,003,677 l0/196l Hennessey ..229/37 R 3,144,978 8/1964 Asman ....229/37 R 3,197,109 7/1965 Nelson..... ....229/37 R 3,459,358 8/1969 Adams..... ....229/37 R Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Axel H. Johnson [5 7] ABSTRACT A means of forming or embossing the end-flaps of a fiberboard carton so that the mutually engaging surfaces of the several flaps are parallel to each other, and therefor define closely contacting surfaces when the carton is sealed. This relationship assures that the adhesive applied to the flaps will uniformly contact the surface of the opposed flap.

l Claim, l5 Drawing Figures t? e w PATENTEDJuLzs |972 SHEEY 1 UF 2 /N VEN T01? ADOBE/4?? f. Wow,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention concerns the forming or embossing of end flaps of cartons made of fiber-board or other suitable material, to assure that the adhesive applied to the flap surfaces will seal the carton securely and not separate if the carton is dropped or mishandled. l

2. Description of the Prior Art Cartons that are customarily used to enclose tissues and similar products generally have composite ends which comprise overlaying flaps sealed together by an adhesive. A lack of parallelism of the contacting surfaces result in incomplete sealing of the flaps, and permit separation if the carton is dropped or mishandled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns cartons of fiber-board or similar material having composite ends comprising overlapping closure flaps. The ends of the cartons are closed by sealing the overlapped flaps and sealing them with an adhesive. An object, therefore, of this invention is to form or emboss certain of the end flaps so that when the cartonV is being closed, the contacting surfaces of the overlapping flaps will make intimate and parallel contact with each other and thus assure a dependable seal.

Further objects and advantages v of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. lt is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

F IG.` l is a perspective fragmentary view of one end of a carton embracing this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a carton with the flaps overlapped and sealed. v

FIG. 3 is a section taken at 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the carton of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken at 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a section taken at 6-6 ofFlG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a section taken at'7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 2, but with the outer flaps removed to expose the inner flaps.

FIG. 9 is a section taken at 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. l is a fragmentary view of the modification shown FIG. 4, with the outer flaps removed to expose the inner flaps.

FIG. ll is a section taken at ll-ll of FIG. l0. FIG. 12 is a section taken at 12-12 of FIG. l0.

FIG. I3 is a section taken at 13-13 of FIg. 8.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of the tongue of one of the flaps. l

FIG. l is a section taken at 15-15 of FIG. 14.

The carton in this instance, is of a material generally known as fiber board, and has side panels and 12and lower and upper panels 14 and 16 respectively. Each composite end of the carton comprises a plurality of flaps integral with their respective panels, and which flaps are defined by a score line" or fold with respect to the respective panels so as to permit bending of the flaps normal to the panels and define a closed space.

Side panels 10 and l2 terminate in side flaps 18 and 20 LII respectively, and which flaps are folded inwardly toward each other as shown in FIG. 8, and defining mutually opposed edges 19 vand 21.y Lower flap 22 is provided with a tongue 24 to assure a seal that prevents entrance of dust when the ends are sealed. Upper flap 26 is then folded over flaps I8 and 20, and also overlaps tongue 24 of flap 22. Each of flaps 18, 20, 22 and 26 define an inner face of an outer face with respect to the opening at the end ofthe carton.

It is obvious that, 1n absence of the present invention, contact between flaps 26, 18 and 20 will not be intimate because of the insertion of the tongue 24. This invention is intended to remedy that problem. This is accomplished by forming or embossing flaps 18 and 20 to define a tongue-receiving area such as 28 and 30 as shown in FIG. 8. This forming results in portions 28 and 30 lying in a common plane and offset inwardly toward the opening an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the material as shown in FIG. 9. Likewise, tongue 24 of flap 22 is also formed inwardly toward the opening an amount equal to the thickness of the material as shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 and l5. Thus, when flaps 18, 20, 22 and 26 are folded in that order, the mutual flaps 18, 20 and 26 will be in intimate contact, and tongue 24 will lie between the inner surface of flap 26 and the outer surface of portions 28 and 30, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. FIGS. 4 and 7 show a modification in which the forming is limited to only portions of flaps 18 and 20, and indicated as 32 and 34, which portions accommodate the tongue 24.

When sealing each of the composite ends of the carton, flaps 18 and 20 are positioned inwardly as shown in FIGS. 8 or 10, and adhesive is applied thereto. Flap 22 is-then folded over flaps 18 and 20. Adhesive is also applied to the inner surface of flap 26 in the region where the flap contacts the outer surface of the tongue 24. This assures a secure seal, in that all of the contacting surfaces of the flaps are parallel and make intimate contact with the adjoining surfaces.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters'Pat'ent ofthe United States is:

l. A carton defined by opposed side panels, an upper panel and a lower panel defining an opening, said panels terminating in a composite end wall closing said opening, said wall comprising opposed side flaps, a lower flap and an upper flap, said side flaps integral with said side panels, said lower flap integral with said lower panel, and said upper f'lap integral with said upper panel, each of said flaps being folded with respect to said panels so as to define inner and outer faces with respect to said opening, said side flaps being positioned mutually across said opening and defining mutually opposed edges, said side flaps each having a portion having an outer face offset inwardly from the outer face of the remainder of said flap a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said flap, said offset portions each extending laterally from said mutually opposed edges toward said side panels and parallel to said inner face to clene a tongue-receiving area, said lower flap being folded so that the inner face thereof lies in mutual contact with said outer face of said side flaps over an area laterally of said tongue-receiving area, said lower flap terminating upwardly in a centrally positioned, laterally directed tongue extending in a direction normal to said side panels and having a lateral length less than the span of offset of said tongue-receiving area, said tongue being offset inwardly from said opening an amount substantially equal t'o the thickness of each of said flaps and lying in said tongue-receiving area, said upper f'lap folded over said tongue, and said side flaps to comprise said composite end, said mutually contacting surfaces being secured together by means of an adhesive.

It Ik ik lll lll 

1. A carton defined by opposed side panels, an upper panel and a lower panel defining an opening, said panels terminating in a composite end wall closing said opening, said wall comprising opposed side flaps, a lower flap and an upper flap, said side flaps integral with said side panels, said lower flap integral with said lower panel, and said upper flap integral with said upper panel, each of said flaps being folded with respect to said panels so as to define inner and outer faces with respect to said opening, said side flaps being positioned mutually across said opening and defining mutually opposed edges, said side flaps each having a portion having an outer face offset inwardly from the outer face of the remainder of said flap a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said flap, said offset portions each extending laterally from said mutually opposed edges toward said side panels and parallel to said inner face to define a tonguereceiving area, said lower flap being folded so that the inner face thereof lies in mutual contact with said outer face of said side flaps over an area laterally of said tongue-receiving area, said lower flap terminating upwardly in a centrally positioned, laterally directed tongue extending in a direction normal to said side panels and having a lateral length less than the span of offset of said tongue-receiving area, said tongue being offset inwardly from said opening an amount substantially equal to the thickness of each of said flaps and lying in said tonguereceiving area, said upper flap folded over said tongue, and said side flaps to comprise said composite end, said mutually contacting surfaces being secured together by means of an adhesive. 